With the support of $140,000 from the Inspiring Australia (NSW) Year-Round Grants Program, community members across New South Wales will again have access to cutting-edge science through a diverse range of community-led events in 2018. From walks and talks outdoors, library seminars and fungi forages to an electric vehicle festival, a water and sewer expo, a virtual reality showcase and more, the NSW network of NSW Regional Science Hubs will host dozens of regular, science-themed activities and events next year across the entire state.

Led by the CORRIDOR project, members of the Orange Cowra Cabonne Science Hub will again present workshops and talks targeting young people aged 18-35. These events will address emerging technologies and explore artistic application with programs themed around drones, state of the art microscopy, scientific illustration and STEM careers. The Science Hub also plans to explore new partnerships with regional museums and other recreational venues.

From the Bega, Riverina and Orange, Cowra, Cabonne regions to the Hunter, New England and Northern Rivers, NSW Regional Science Hubs are creating more opportunities for people to interact with science and technology professionals in new and memorable ways. Among the venues hosting the 2018 events are bars, libraries, parks, sporting fields, regional galleries and museums.

We are excited to welcome two new Science Hubs at Sydney Olympic Park and on the Coffs Coast who will join the network to deliver regular events in their communities. Eleven other local partnerships will again present entertaining and educational programs.

Also returning to present a second season of free science and music events is City Recital Hall, whose popular lunchtime Sounds Like Science series has been a standout success this year. In 2017 scientists and musicians canvassed topics from physics and neuroscience to singing and concert hall accoustics. Among guest speakers for the 2018 program are a surgeon, a neuroscientist, a cosmologist, mental health researchers and an evolutionary biologist.